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US 4,382,498 AGranted
Silage handling system
OwnerKenneth P. Glendinninginventor
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OwnerKenneth P. Glendinninginventor
Estimating the term…
The present invention relates to silage handling system for the discharge chute of an upright silo. It comprises a flange member secureable to the lower extremity of a silo discharge chute about the periphery thereof with this flange member restricting the size of the discharge opening. The flange member has a generally centered opening through which silage can pass and cooperates with a funnel member releasably secured to the flange member with the funnel member of a size to cover the opening in the flange. The flange is secured to the chute of a silo and the funnel member is releasably secured to the flange such that access to the interior of the chute through the opening in the flange is possible. In the preferred embodiment the flange and the funnel members are both made of a plastic material such that the flange can be modified to fit the individual characteristics of the silo and discharge chute to which it is to be installed. The funnel member is quite light, simplifying the removal and re-engagement of the funnel to the flange. This system provides an effective means for controlling the discharge of silage from the discharge chute of a silo in a manner which avoids leakage and minimizes waste of silage. The system is capable of operating under a variety of different conditions while still providing good access to the chute of the silo. The system is simple and rugged and easily modified in the field.
In a silage unloading system having a discharge chute including an inlet means and a discharge, a silage hopper comprising a first member for securement to the discharge of such discharge chute and having an opening through which silage can pass, and a second member, defining a silage-converging through passage, releasably secured beneath said first member and cooperating therewith to converge silage passing through the opening in said first member, whereby silage unloaded into such discharge chute is controlled and directed by said first member and said second member to a point of discharge from said second member, removal of said second member allowing access to such discharge chute through the opening in said first member.
In a silage unloading system having a vertical discharge chute with a lower portion defining an opening for the discharge of silage, a silage directing arrangement comprising a flange sized to restrict the opening of such discharge chute, said flange having an opening therein through which silage can pass, a funnel sized to cover the opening in said flange, means for releasably securing said funnel to said flange and means for securing said flange to the lower portion of the such discharge chute whereby said funnel may be released from said flange to allow access to said chute through the opening in said flange, said flange, said funnel and said discharge chute when said flange and funel are secured, defining a passageway for receiving silage loaded into said discharge chute and discharging such silage at the point of discharge of said funnel.
A silage directing arrangement comprising in combination a silo discharge chute having a silage discharging bottom, a flange member for securement to and generally sealing with the bottom of said discharge chute, said flange member having an opening to be generally centered beneath the axis of said chute, and a funnel member sized to cover the opening in said flange, and means for releasably securing said funnel to said flange whereby said funnel member may be released from said flange member to allow a man access to said chute through the opening in said flange member, the combination cooperating to direct silage feed to said discharge chute to a point of discharge of said funnel.
A hopper for securement to the discharge chute of a silo comprising a flange, a funnel and means for releasably securing said flange and said funnel, said flange having an opening therein for the passage of silage and a selectively severable oversized area about the opening to be cut to fit the discharge chute to which it will be assembled, said oversized area providing a contact surface for cooperating with the lower periperhy of such discharge chute to restrict such discharge chute to the opening in said flange, said funnel being sized to cover the opening in the flange;
A hopper for securement to the discharge chute of a silo comprising a flange, a funnel and means for releasably securing said flange and said funnel, said flange having an opening therein for the passage of silage and an area about the opening for providing a contact surface for cooperating with the lower periphery of a discharge chute to restrict discharge from such discharge chute to the opening in said flange, said funnel being sized to cover the opening in the flange;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.